Where to Sleep |
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Providing Your Puppy With His Own Resting Place
Most puppies benefit from being trained to rest and sleep in a crate. This aids
in house training and keeps puppies safe when they cannot be closely supervised.
As your puppy matures and becomes reliably housetrained, he can be trained to sleep
on his own bed. A variety of dog beds are available in different sizes and materials.
Select a dog bed that will be comfortable for your dog’s adult size and that is
durable and easily washed.
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Selecting a Crate for Your Puppy
Crating is an effective way to safely confine your puppy when
she cannot be supervised and is also a helpful aid in housetraining. The crate
you select should be large enough to allow your dog to stand up and turn around
once she is adult size. Many types of crates are available, but these can be divided
generally into wire, hard plastic and soft crates.
- Wire Crates: These crates are best suited for in-home crate training
and can also be used for car travel. The wire construction allows good visibility and
ventilation. An added benefit is that many models are available with divider panels to
reduce space for puppies. These can be removed as your puppy grows. Many models are constructed
to easily collapse for moving or storage. (One drawback: Wire crates are not approved for airline travel).
- Hard Plastic Crates: These crates were originally designed for pet transport
and most models are approved for airline travel. These can be used for in-home crate training,
but have the disadvantage of reduced visibility and ventilation.
- Soft Crates: These crates are very light weight, portable, and easy to set up.
They are well suited for use in hotel rooms or when traveling with pets. Although they can be used as an
in-home crate for well-trained adult dogs, they are not generally a good choice for puppies who are not
yet trained because they are not as durable as either the wire or plastic crates.
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Time to Train! Teaching Your Puppy to be Comfortable in His Crate
Whenever possible, you puppy’s crate should be located near you when you are at home. This will encourage
your puppy to enter the crate when he is tired and needs a rest. If possible, a crate should be placed
next to your bed overnight. Here are guidelines for training your puppy to accept his crate as a comfortable place to relax:
- Introduce the crate to your puppy by periodically tossing treats or toys into the open door during the day. Allow your
puppy to enter the crate to find these treats, and to come out as he desires. (Do not push or force your puppy into the crate).
- Puppies can learn to associate their crate with meal time by feeding them in the crate and leaving the door open.
When your puppy seems comfortable in the crate, the door can be closed (at first, reopen the door before he finishes eating).
- Crate your puppy for short periods of time while you are home with him. This helps to prevent an association
between the crate and your leaving him/her alone.
- The time your puppy is confined to his crate can be gradually increased and should always be paired with a food delivery
toy or chew toy that your puppy enjoys.
- A general rule of thumb is that a dog should never spend more than 4 to 6 hours of uninterrupted time in a crate.
When extended isolation is unavoidable, owners must make other arrangements to ensure that the puppy’s daily physical
and emotional needs are met. Some solutions include hiring a noon-time dog walker, pet sitter or using a doggy day care service.
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